22 July 2012:
PAP does not deserve the 60.1%.
I just had a dinner with some of my parents' friends. One came back from Australia while another remained in Singapore like us.The issue on politics and the Lee family appeared many times in our conversations. And through these conversations, I learnt of things that were supposed to be secret forever.
Apparently someone didn't take enough precautions and others had big mouths.
I won't be telling exactly what happened, since I do not want to implicate anyone. Although that's rather unlikely, since my blog doesn't have many hits unlike Yawning Bread so it's unlikely that I would be pressured by AGC or some other body to apologise.
Back to where I was, I heard scandalous tales of misconduct by the Lee family. These were actually kept low for many years, and the things mentioned are still going on till today. Of course, Singapore media does not and cannot report on it, but it seems like more people know about this now.
I suppose it is true that our judicial system is bent towards supporting the ruling party and its leaders. It really does seem so, based on the former cases like LKY vs CSJ. So it was a pity that Alan Shadrake was jailed for contempt of court when he challenged our judicial system in his book. In Britain, at least in BBC, the government's news outlet, Singapore was cast in a bad light after the verdict came out.
Another story I heard - actually it's not a story since it's true - was about how someone in power was able to manipulate judicial investigations. Of course, the sensible thing to do then was to blow this matter up for the whole world to scrutinise and for the ruling party to explain seriously. However, sadly, the person can't.
The PAP has many who are lawyers. The man right at the top (used to be, rather) is a lawyer by training. That's why he was able to sue CSJ successfully twice and JBJ too. They would know of loopholes in Singapore law that they can exploit. The most common and easiest one to use is the lack of solid evidence.
Sadly, in most cases, there really is not much evidence. These people would be willing swear an oath of death, but of course it is no use in court. The people involved can easily use this to throw the case out of the window. Sometimes, yes, it's the people's fault since they do not bother to keep detailed records. However, other times, it was because things were manipulated such that no proper records could be kept or that it was invalid.
No wonder one of my parents' friends chose to run to Australia. Partly, it was for a better life and education for their daughter. But largely, I believe, was because of such a political atmosphere. The ruling party has been doing things that are incorrect. I do not mean making wrong decisions - anyone may make that mistake too. I mean things that are against the law, yet they get away scot-free.
In forums, I see people calling the PAP 'PAPigs'. While I would not use such a term, I understand their angst. Chances are, their friends or even they themselves have experienced such bullying by members of the ruling party. Such behaviour is something like in China.
Yet, according to our pledge, we are supposed to be democratic. My previous history teacher Mr Y told us that actually Singapore is, strictly speaking, a socialist democracy. Sadly, I feel it is more like a capitalist dictatorship. Of course, things are not that gloomy. Singapore's political scene has been changing. I hope that next time Singapore would prosper politically as well.
- news flash - I read this article today in Lianhe Zaobao about the death penalty, homosexuality and megachurhces. I am truly surprised that a conservative newspaper (they're conservative since it's mainly conservative old folks and PRCs that are reading) would run such a controversial commentary. In it, it said that Singapore should be more open to homosexuality to embrace diversity. It even pointed out that Singapore is an exception: one of very few economically developed countries that criminalise homosexuality. Indeed, indeed. (I didn't really read the part about the death penalty, much less the part on megachurches.)
- another news flash - Someone's calling so TTFN.